NEW YEAR'S NIGHT 

      Now you are mine, to-night at last I say it; You're a dove I have bought for sacrifice, And to-night I slay it. Here in my arms my naked sacrifice! Death, do you hear, in my arms I am bringing My offering, bought at great price. She's a silvery dove worth more than all I've got. Now I offer her up to the ancient, inexorable God, Who knows me not. Look, she's a wonderful dove, without blemish or spot! I sacrifice all in her, my last of the world, Pride, strength, all the lot. All, all on the altar! And death swooping down Like a falcon. 'Tis God has taken the victim; I have won my renown. 

  

  

 VALENTINE'S NIGHT 

      You shadow and flame, You interchange, You death in the game! Now I gather you up, Now I put you back Like a poppy in its cup. And so, you are a maid Again, my darling, but new, Unafraid. My love, my blossom, a child Almost! The flower in the bud Again, undefiled.       And yet, a woman, knowing All, good, evil, both In one blossom blowing. 

  

  

 BIRTH NIGHT 

      THIS fireglow is a red womb In the night, where you're folded up On your doom. And the ugly, brutal years Are dissolving out of you, And the stagnant tears. I the great vein that leads From the night to the source of you, Which the sweet blood feeds. New phase in the germ of you; New sunny streams of blood Washing you through.       You are born again of me. I, Adam, from the veins of me The Eve that is to be. What has been long ago Grows dimmer, we both forget, We no longer know. You are lovely, your face is soft Like a flower in bud On a mountain croft. This is Noël for me. To-night is a woman born Of the man in me. 

  

  

 RABBIT SNARED IN THE NIGHT 

      WHY do you spurt and sprottle like that, bunny? Why should I want to throttle you, bunny? Yes, 

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